Radio tube socket



July 2, 1929. l E, G, DANIELSQN 1,719,288

RADIO TUBE SOCKET Filed Nov. 25, 1925 FIE E line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST G. DANIELsoN, OE sAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, AssIGNOR, RY mmm 5-sIGNMENTs, To GRAY a DANIELSON MFG. co., OE SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA ACOPARTNERSIIIP ooNsIsriNe or THOMAS B. GRAY AND ERNEST e. DANIELSONRADIO TUBE SOCKET.

Application led November 23, 1925. Serial No. 70,741,

'lhe device of this invention is for the pur pose of providing aconvenient mounting or socket for electron emission tubes which arecommonly known as radio tubes. lt is especially adapted for radio tubeswhich are provided with projecting contact prongs which constitute thesole means for securing the tube to a socket.

lt is an object of this invention to devise a radio tube socket which isprovided with full floating electrical contact elements for receivingthe tube prongs so that the Contact members are free to align themselvesto compensate for irregularities in the spacing of the prongs in orderto insure making a perfeet and uniform electrical contact.

llt is a further object of this invention to construct a radio tubesocket by adapting a base member to receive the prongs of a radio tubeand to provide a plurality of slots in the base member for receiving thecontact elements which contact with the prongs. lit is proposed to mountthe contact elements within these slots so as to allow limited movementof the inner ends of the elements in any direction lateral to thetubeprongs.

it is a further object of this invention to construct the individualcontact means in the form of a plurality of strips adapted to be mountedwithin a slot in the base member and to engage opposed sides of tubeprongs at their inner ends. 1t is proposed to curve the inner ends ofthe strips so as to contact with substantially the entire surface of theprongs,

and to extend at least one of these strips through the side of the basemember to provide a terminal connector.

@ther objects of the invention will be ap parent from the followingdescription in which l have set forth the preferred embodiment of myinvention;

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevational view of the socket of this inventiontalrenwalong the Fig. Q is a bottom view of the socket as shown in Fig.1, certain parts being removed.

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing one of the electrical 'contact elements.

'llhe device comprises generally a base or body member which is adaptedto receive the prongs of a radio tube. Thus, referring to the drawings,the base member is provided with a plurallty of apertures 11, 12. 13 and1t which are adapted to receive the prongs 15, 16, 17 and 18respectively of a radio tube 19. The two prongs 15 and 16 are usuallylargerrin. dlameter than the prongs 17 and 18 1n order to insure'bringing the correct prongs into contact with the several electricalcontact elements to be later described. The base member 10 is preferablyconstructed of some sultable molded insulating compound, such as aphenolic condensate product and is hollowed out on its under side as at21 to llghten and cheapen its construction. Spaced apertures 22areprovided to receive screws or bolts to clamp the base member to asupport or panel of a radio receiving set..

Below the apertures 11-11 the base member is provided with enlargedlower openings 23 to 26 inclusive for the reception of the Inner ends ofelectrical contact elements. 'lhe base member isalso provided with a plurality of vertical slots 21' to 30 inclusive which communicate betweenthese lower openings and the outer periphery 81 of the base.. Fositioned within each of the vertical slots al to inclusive there is anelectrical contact element designated generally as 3521. 'llhese toalign themselves to compensate for irregu-x larities in the tube prongs.'llhat is, they are iioating contacts which have limited movement in anydirection lateral to the tube prongs so as to automatically adjustthem-l selves so as to always malte perfect contact with the tubeprongs. 'llhe specihc construev tion of these contacts preferablycomprises a plurality or pair of metallic strips 33 and 31.

lill

having their inner ends 35 and 36 curved to form substantiallysemi-cylindrical surfaces which are adapted to substantially surroundthe tube pi'ongs. vThese strips are adapted to be positionmlin one ofthe vertical slots, for example the slot 28 and lower opening 24. lnorder to resiliently urge these strips together to effectively grip thesides of the tube prongs and still to allow both lateral andlongitudinal sliding movement of the strips there are provided a pairof` bowed leaf springs 37 and 38 which are posltioncd between the sideWalls of the slot 28 and the outer surfaces of the two strips 33 and 34.'lhus the end portions 35 and 36 are resiliently urgedtogether to gripopposed sides of one of the tube prongs While at the same time these endportions are free to move a certain limited amount in a lateraldirection and also in a longitudinal direction.' Thus, the electricalcontact means are floating devices which can readily adapt themselves toirregularities in the positioning of thc tube prongs.

For making electrical connections with the socket at least one of thestrips 34 or 35 is extended out beyond the outer periphery 31 of thebase member to provide a terminal connector. In the particularconstruction illustrated, both of the stripsl have been extended, oneforming a terminal connector to which wires may be soldered, While theother forms a detachable terminal connector. Thus, the stripl 34 has alaterally bent portion 39 which is threaded to receive a screw 40 Whilethe strip 33 is extended to form the terminal tab ward movement of thestrip 33. The basemember is preferably apertured as at 44 to allow thescrews to extend therethrough. Thus, the conductor Wires may beconnected directly to the contact strip which makes electrical contactwith the tube prongs.

In order to Vmore securely vgrip the tube prongs to the electricalcontact elements the curved portions 35 and 36 are also preferablyknurled along their inner surfaces as at 45 to increase the. frictionbetween the contacts and the two prongs and to exert a wiping actionupon the prongs. This wiping action tends to remove any drops of solderthat may be present upon the tube prongs. The upper edges 46 of thecurved portions 35 and 36 are also flared outwardly so as to moreeffectively guide the electrical Contact means into engagement with thetube prongs. To retain the electrical contact means 32 Within the slots2T to 30 inclusive, a retaining member or plate 48 is provided which issecured to the under side of the lbase member l0 by suitable means, suchas a pin 49.- This retaining plate is preferably perforated as at 50 toallow the tube prongs to extend therethrough.

A socket such as described will always exert a uniform gripping actionon the tube prongs as the self aligning feature permitsthe contactsurface to bear evenly upo'n substantially the ent-ire surface of thetube prongs. There can be no possibility of loose contacts because theconnector terminals are an integral part of the contact elements.

I'claim: i.

l. In a tube socket, a base member adapted at its upper face to receivethe downwardly projecting prongs of a radio tube wardly projectingprongs of a radio tube and having a plurality of slots extending fromthe base to the sides thereof, and electrical contact means disposed inveach of said slots, each of said contact means being slidable relativeto the base in the direction of the extension of its associated slot,each of said contact means comprising'a plurality of metallic stripsformed at their inner ends to receive a tube prong, and resilient means'for urging'said strips to grip opposite sides of a tube prong.

3. In a tube socket, a base member adapted at its upper face to receivethe downwardly projecting prongs of a radio tube, electrical Contactelements formed to grip the sides of each of said prongs, said basemember having a plurality of slots extending from Within the baselaterally to its outer periphery, and means for mounting each ot saidcontact means in one of said slots, said means permitting slidingmovement with respect to the base member in the direction of extensionof its associated slot.

4. In a tube socket, a base member adapted at its upper face to receivethe prongs of a radio tube, electrical contact elements each comprisinga pair of juxtaposed metallic strips formed to grip a tube prong attheir inner ends, said base member having a plurality of slots extendinglaterally to the periphery of the same, and means for mounting each ofsaid contact elements in one of said slots for limited sliding movementin tpe direction of extension of its associated s ot.

5. In a tube socket, a base member adapted at its upper face to receivethe prongs of a radio tube, electrical contact elements each comprisinga pair of juxtaposed metallic strips adapted to grip a tube prong attheir inner ends, said base member having a plurality of slots extendinglaterally to the periphery of the same, and means for mounting each ofsaid contact elements in one of said slots, said means permittinglimitedy sliding movement laterally with respect to said prongs and inthe direction of the length of said strips.

6. In a tube socket, a base member adapted at its upper face to receivethe prongs of a radio tube, electrical contact elements each comprisinga pair of juxtaposed metallic strips shaped at their inner ends toreceive a vertical prong, said base member having a plurality of slotsextending outwardly to the sides of the same, the Contact elementsextending inwardly from the sides of the base, and means including leafsprings for mounting each of said contact elements in one of said slotsfor limited lateral and longitudinal movement.

7. In a socket adapted to support and make connection with a radio tubehaving terminal prongs, a base member having a pluralityof slots, and anelectrical contact element disposed in each slot and formed at its innerend to engage a tube prong, each of said elements comprising a pair ofmetallic strips, said strips being slidable relative t0 the base in thedirection of their len th, the combined thickness of said strips bemgsubstantially less than the Width of a slot, and resilient means fornormally retaining said strips substantially centrally of said slots.

8. In a socket adapted to support and make electrical connection with aradio tube having terminal prongs, a base member having at least threeslots extending laterally to the outer periphery of the same, and an.electrical contact element disposed in each slot, each elementcomprising a pair of flat metallic strips in juxtaposition, such stripshaving their inner ends curved transversely to engage opposite sides ofa tube prong and having a combined thickness substantially less than theWidth of said slot, resilient means for centering the element withrespect to the slot, said strips being slidable in the irection of theirlength relative to said ase.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set m hand.

y ERNEST G. DANIELSON.

